Page 99 - Technology and Innovation Journal - 19-1

Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19, pp. 437-440, 2017 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.1.2017.437
Copyright © 2017 National Academy of Inventors. www.technologyandinnovation.org

INNOVATION SAVING LIVES:
2016 PATENTS FOR HUMANITY AWARDS

Philippa Olsen and Edward Elliott 2
1
1 Office of the Chief Communications Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Alexandria, VA, USA
2 Patents for Humanity Program, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Alexandria, VA, USA

Patents for Humanity is the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s top honor for inno-
vators who bring life-changing technologies to those in need. While the developed world has
long benefited from advanced technology in areas such as medical care, sanitation, and living
standards, solutions are needed that work in different environments, environments where re-
sources are often scarce. This year’s winners found new ways to administer and provide health
care solutions in some of the most disadvantaged regions, demonstrating how the power of
innovation can change the world for the better.

Key words: Patents; Intellectual property; Patents for Humanity; Humanitarian; USPTO

INNOVATION SAVING LIVES: 2016 PATENTS our ongoing effort to raise awareness of intellectual
FOR HUMANITY AWARDS property rights and their integral function in the
Universities, government agencies, nonprofits, and development of human technology and progress.
businesses use game-changing technology to tackle This year’s winners found new and innovative
global humanitarian challenges, such as diagnosing ways to administer and provide health care solutions
and treating diseases or delivering vaccines effec- in some of the most disadvantaged regions of the
tively in underserved regions of the world. Patents for world. Winners receive public recognition as well
Humanity is the United States Patent and Trademark as a voucher for accelerating certain matters before
Office’s (USPTO) top honor for innovators who bring the USPTO.
life-changing technologies to those in need. The pro- While the developed world has long benefited
gram recognizes these innovators while also spurring from advanced technology in areas such as medi-
further work by the innovation community aimed at cal care, sanitation, and living standards, we need
helping impoverished communities. new solutions that work in different environments,
Each year of the program, we have published the environments where resources are often scarce. The
Patents for Humanity winners in Technology & Inno- winners’ technologies and products show tomorrow’s
vation. The journal and the National Academy of scientists and engineers how the power of innovation
Inventors continue to be important collaborators in can change the world for the better.
_____________________

Accepted April 15, 2017.
Address correspondence to Edward Elliott, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA.
E-mail: Edward.Elliott@uspto.gov

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